Lars Risanger Meland

Lars Risanger married Helga Nilsdotter; they bought the MELAND FARM inSkjold and took the name MELAND. Lars was a farmer and fisherman.August and September he would fish for sild (fish) - at times he sailedto England when fishing. He was interested in local news and peoplecame to him to get news and to borrow papers from him. He helped buildthe new church tower in 1887 at Skjold church, he also worked in thechurch as a singer in the Koret (choir) and sang for funerals. (A letterfrom cousin Helga Salmonsen dated Nov. 19, 1994 tells of the churchhaving been burned by a satanic group.) We visited the site - the belland foundation were all that was left - see pictures taken in 1996. Anew church will be built in Skjold. Lars died of LUNGEBETENNELSE(PNEUMONIA) December 29, 1926 and was buried at Skjold Kirke on January6, 1927.
MELAND is located on Skjoldfjord. They raised hay, had sheep, andbeautiful gardens. A creek ran through the property which is whereGurine washed clothes in summer. The house is still there and in use bythe new owners. In 1996 we were able to visit and enjoyed seeing whereour father had grown up. The steep stairway, beautiful brass doorhandles, interesting door painted by Cousin Erna's first husband, and thefact we could be where our ancestors had lived was a highlight of ourtrip. I took many pictures of the house. Gurine lived at Meland allher life, until 1961. Gunvald sold the farm when he was in his 80's.
We visited Magde Espeland, age 92, who was a mid-wife and lived in thefarm
across from Meland. She was a friend of Dad and his brothers andsisters. We also visited Erlands School, which is now a museum, and isthe school the Meland children attended.